NOTE: VIDEO AT THE END OF ARTICLE
Hoax Unravels After “Kidnapping” Claim Sparks Nationwide Outrage — Shocking Charges Filed Against Illegal Immigrant
A bizarre and explosive case out of California has rocked immigration circles and triggered a direct response from federal authorities and the White House.
A 41-year-old Mexican national from South Los Angeles is now in federal custody after officials say she staged her own kidnapping to spark outrage, solicit donations, and smear immigration enforcement.
Federal prosecutors allege the entire incident — including dramatic press conferences, viral social media campaigns, and fundraising pleas — was part of a carefully orchestrated GoFundMe scam built on a lie.
🔍 What Really Happened?
The incident began June 25, when supporters of Yuriana Julia Pelaez Calderon held a press event outside a Jack in the Box in Los Angeles, claiming she had been forcibly taken by men in unmarked vehicles. Attorney Stephano Medina appeared at the presser, alleging Calderon had been kidnapped, transported to the southern border, and pressured into signing deportation papers under duress.
According to the story pushed by Medina and Calderon’s family, she was allegedly held in a warehouse and only released after being coerced by federal agents.
But federal investigators say the entire narrative was a fabrication.
A newly unsealed affidavit from the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California paints a very different story — one involving deliberate deception, phone spoofing, and social manipulation.
💰 The GoFundMe Scam
Following the “kidnapping,” Calderon’s daughter launched a GoFundMe campaign seeking $4,500 to cover legal and emergency expenses. The page described a terrifying ordeal and asked the public to help them fight “ICE abuse” and locate her missing mother.
The daughter also filed a missing persons report with the LAPD, which triggered a larger investigation involving Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). Fearing the possibility of a real abduction, federal agents committed substantial resources to the case.
But those resources, agents now say, were wasted chasing a hoax.
🎥 What Surveillance Footage Revealed
Surveillance video reviewed by HSI reportedly shows Calderon calmly walking to a nearby sedan in the same parking lot where the alleged kidnapping occurred. There were no signs of distress, no struggle, and no urgency.
To make matters more suspicious, a marked LAPD cruiser was parked nearby at the time. Calderon, who claimed to have been forcibly taken, made no attempt to alert police.
Phone records revealed that several calls made during her “disappearance” — supposedly using borrowed phones — were actually placed from Calderon’s own phone, with the caller ID spoofed or blocked.
The inconsistencies mounted quickly.
When located by HSI on July 5 in a Bakersfield shopping center, Calderon allegedly continued to claim she’d been kidnapped by masked men — despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary.
⚖️ Federal Charges Filed
Calderon now faces two felony charges:
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Conspiracy
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Making false statements to federal officers
Each charge carries a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison.
Federal prosecutors say the case isn’t just about fraud — it’s about manipulating national discourse and weaponizing public sympathy for personal gain.
🧨 White House, DOJ, and HSI Respond
In a rare coordinated message, the Department of Justice, Homeland Security, and the White House issued strong public statements condemning the hoax.
U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli emphasized that the incident was not just illegal — it was dangerous.
“Dangerous rhetoric that ICE agents are ‘kidnapping’ illegal immigrants is being recklessly peddled by politicians and echoed in the media to inflame the public and discredit our courageous federal agents.”
Eddy Wang, HSI Special Agent in Charge for Los Angeles, highlighted the devastating trade-offs that come with this kind of fraud.
“The real cost of a fraud like this is the amount of fentanyl not seized, child predators not removed from the communities, and human trafficking victims not rescued because law enforcement redirected resources to recover the defendant.”
The White House also weighed in through spokesperson Abigail Jackson:
“The Fake News is so desperate to believe any anti-ICE narrative that they refuse to actually check the facts and instead just echo the lies they’re fed.”
“The truth has come out: this was nothing more than another Fake News Hoax. Any outlet that participated in this should be ashamed and apologize to their viewers.”
📉 Fallout and Backlash
The case has reignited debate about public trust in media, accountability among immigration advocates, and the growing use of online donation platforms to raise money under questionable pretenses.
Critics of mainstream media argue that the case shows how quickly unverified stories can snowball into national outrage — especially when they align with political narratives.
On social media, reactions have ranged from fury to disbelief, with some users demanding GoFundMe tighten verification policies, while others call for harsher penalties when activist-driven hoaxes endanger public safety and drain federal resources.
🧩 What Comes Next?
As Calderon awaits trial, federal authorities are reportedly investigating whether others involved in the stunt — including family members and legal representatives — could also face charges. The GoFundMe page has since been removed, but questions linger about where the funds went and who benefited.
The case may serve as a warning for advocacy groups and media outlets to verify before amplifying, and a reminder that real consequences follow false narratives.
